Can puncturing device



Dec. 26, 1950 c. SWYERS CAN PUNCTURING DEVICE ventor Filed March 25,1946 Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE 2,535,333 cANPUNCTURING DEVICE can Swyers, st. Albans, w. Va. Application March 25,1946, Serial No. 656,921

. '1 The present invention relates to so-called devices and tools whichare adapted to hold and puncture venting andpouring holes in commoditycans; for example, evaporatedmilk cans, this is a manner to facilitatedispensing of the contents from the can.

As the opening and general statement of the in vention implies, the artto which the present invention relates is highly and actively developedand there are many and varied types of can puncturing devices known andpatented". Usually, these devices are characterized by pointedpenetrating prongs which "are pressed forcibly down against the top ofthe can, whereby tojpenetrate same and to provide diametrically oppositeholes, the latter being used selectively for venting and pouringpurposes. The present invention, like existing structures in the samecategory, possesses many elements which are basically similar to thosefound in said prior devices. carrying out the specific principles of theinstant invention, I have evolved and produced a simpler and morepractical structure which is possessed of a number of distinguishableand appreciable improvements.

In carrying out my aims, I provide a can holding shelf, the same being apart of a special fixture and said fixture including means at the upperend of a back plate thereof to accommodate a swingably mounted frame,said frame being provided with finger actuating means and can toppuncturing prongs.

More specifically, novelty is predicated upon an upstanding back plateforming apart of the wall fixture, the upper end of said plate havingportions bent to provide spaced bearings and also a portion, betweensaid bearings bent to provide a resilient detent, the latter beingreleasably engageable with the can to assist in conveniently holdingsame in a puncturable position on said shelf. r

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views: I

Figure 1 is a front view of the complete assemblage forming the canholding and puncturing device.

Figure 2 is a side or edge elevationiof the same, this showing, indotted lines, theQcan and the operation of the puncturing tool forming apart of the complete device.

However, in

2 Claims. (Cl. 30-10) Figure 3 is a top view which may be said to betaken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1, thislooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a bottom view occurring on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 lookingupwardly in the direction of the arrows.

In using the expression device I have in mind the complete assemblage,that is, the overall structural means which is characterized by thesocalled wall fixture or bracket A on the one hand, and compl'ementaljuncturing tool B on the other. The can, which is conventional, isindicated at C whereas the wall or other supporting surface is denotedat D.

'The bracket or fixture A comprises, as before indicated, a horizontalshelf 6, this of general rectangular form as shown in Figure 3. Attachedto and rising from the inner end of the shelf is a vertical plate orwall I which is adaptedto bear againstand is designed to be secured tothe support D. The longitudinal edges of the shelf are provided withupstanding lips 8 forming retaining flanges for the lower or bottomportion of said can 0. The numeral 9 designates a diagonal brace whichis connected by a bend III to the front or outer end of the shelf. Thisbrace is of general V-shaped form as shown in Figure 2 and the terminalend portion is provided with a laterally bent ear I l which is securedby a fastening 12 to the support 13. The length of the brace or leg 9 issuch as to place the attaching ear H in vertical alignment with theupstanding wall I. This wall 1 as shown in Figure 1 is of rectangularfiat form and the upper end thereof is provided with struck-out tongues.There are three of such tongues. The outermost tongues l3 are shaped andbent to provide the attaching ears to accommodate the fastening screwsM. The bent portions of said tongues are fashioned into bearings l5. Theremaining tongue is located between the ears l3 and is bent as at is andagain bent as at I l and flared up and outwardly as at l8 to provide aspring detent. This detent is engageable with the upper puncturable endof the can C as is brought out to advantage by the dotted line showingin Figure 2.

The tool, or can puncturing means B comprises a wire or similar frame l9whose bent end portions zfl'form journals and these are mounted forrotation in the bearings I5. The central or bight portion of the frameis fashioned into a finger ring 2| and the adjacent portions 22 arebrought together to forma shank which accommodates a sleeve or -collar23 in the manner shown. The opposed side members of the frame propercarry a cross rod 24 which is in turn provided with laterally bent ends25 (see Figure 2) and said ends terminate in pointed puncturing prongs2B. The prongs are adapted to press down and force through the top ofthe can 0, for purposes of forming the holes (not shown) as usual.

In practice, the can is placed on the shelf 6 and the shelf is braced bythe leg or brace '9 and the firmly attached vertical wall I. The lowerportion of the can is held against side slipping and sliding by theconfining and retaining flanges 8. The hinged frame or tool B is raised.to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 and the prongs 26 arebrought down against :the toppfithe can. By exerting a downwardpull onthe finger ring 2! it is possible to force the prongs through the cantop in an obvious manner. It might be added, as before indicated, thatthe can is held at zthe upper portion, this vagainst slipping by theaforementioned resilient detent formed by the features 11 and :IB.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combinavtion and arrangement of partsmaybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

Iclaiin: LA can holding and puncturing device of the .classdescribedcomprising a can :holder includ- ,inga v horizontally disposed shelfhaving an upstanding wall, said wall terminating at its upper end in.bearings and said bearings serving to accommodate a can puncturingtool,said bearings being spaced apart and said wall also having a laterallyand downwardly bent .springy detent,

said detent being situated between said bearings 40 I and adapted tosnap over and engage the upper end of the can, said shelf being providedwith side lips forming can confining flanges to facilitate holding saidcan in place during the minefinger ring.

4 turing step, said shelf also including a depending diagonal bracingleg terminating in an attaching ear for securement to a fixed supportingsurface, and a wire frame hingedly mounted in said bearings and providedwith can puncturing elements.

2. A milk can basing, holding and top puncturing device of the typeshown and described comprising a sheet material wall fixture, saidfixture being of a single piece of material and embody- Eingarhorizontally disposed shelf provided at one end with an upstandingwall, said wall terminating at its upper end in spaced bearings andbeing provided, between said bearings with a lateral and downwardly bentdetent, said detent overlying said shelf and being at right angles tosaid wall and having an upturned free end portion, the

iendof'thefshelf opposite to the end carrying said wall. being providedwith a down bent diagonally disposed bracing leg terminating in anattaching ear, said ear being in an approximate plane with saidupstanding-wall, opposed longitudinal edge portions of said shel'fhaving upstanding lips provi'ding'can confining flanges, said flangesserving i to embrace diametrically opposite portions of the base part ofthe milk can and said detent being adapted to rest resiliently upon thetop of the "can, and a wire frame having journals hingedly mounted insaid bearings and provided with can puncturing elements and furtherincluding a CARL SWYERS.

I REFERENCES'GITED The following references are of record in the file.of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number ,Name Date 919,675 Armstrong Apr. 27, 19091,331,437 Zlohanson Feb. 17, 1920 349,842 McKinley Aug. 17, 19201,529,214 Ro'os "Mar. '10, 1925 2,037,410 Ernst Apr. 14,1936

